Catching bluegill, crappie and perch on light gear ... My exploration of ultralight tackle started with ice fishing. Ice rods are small (usually 24-30 inches), and reels are designed for light ...

Small 500- to 1000-size reels with 4-pound-test line matched with a 6-foot ultralight rod will do the trick. Presentation is critical, as pre-spawn crappie are often at specific depths and keyed ...